Adelaide's 'goodwill gesture' costs it draft picks 20 and 54

Caroline Wilson and Michael Gleeson

The Crows have given up draft picks as they brace for heavy penalties in the wake of the Kurt Tippett saga. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo

THE AFL was saved embarrassment at Thursday's national draft after Adelaide's extraordinary decision to give up its first two draft picks as the team braces for heavy penalties from the Kurt Tippett saga.

The Crows will not use picks No. 20 and No. 54 in the draft, saying on Wednesday that the move was a ''gesture of goodwill''.

Adelaide's first pick will now be No. 62.

Crows chairman Rob Chapman said it was a common-sense initiative given the club is under investigation by the AFL over the Tippett affair and alleged third-party payments to players.

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The AFL has moved to fast-track the Tippett hearing, with a preliminary meeting between all parties on Friday.

AFL football operations boss Adrian Anderson confirmed the league will summon lawyers representing Adelaide, Tippett, chief executive Steven Trigg, John Reid and football operations manager Phil Harper in a bid to clear up any procedural matters that may slow down next week's AFL Commission hearing.

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Anderson applauded the Crows' decision to voluntarily relinquish the first two draft picks and admitted he would stonily recommend to the AFL Commission the ''appropriate'' decision should be strongly taken into account when and if the commissioners have to consider punishment for the Crows.

Anderson said the decision was not an acceptance of guilt but plainly indicated an intent by the club - which came forward to the AFL with the damning correspondence that precipitated the AFL investigation and charges - to make certain admissions at the AFL Commission hearing on November 30.

The AFL should have a clearer picture of Adelaide's intentions at the preliminary hearing by the commission's sub-committee, set down for Friday at 4pm.

''I think that is a really positive step by the club, a gesture of goodwill by the club and I will certainly

recommend to the commission that this is taken into account in Adelaide's favour at the commission hearing scheduled for November 30,'' Anderson said.

''We had discussions with Adelaide but at the end of the day this is something that Adelaide had to volunteer and they made the decision themselves to volunteer these two picks and I think that is the right move.''

The AFL had been keen to have this matter resolved ahead of the national draft but given the timing this was not practical.

So Adelaide's decision to voluntarily forgo picks helps the AFL out of the uncomfortable situation of having the club participate in a draft while confronting such serious charges and potential punishments.

The Crows could not have simply passed on their first two picks and then picked in the third and subsequent rounds as once a club passes on a pick it cannot re-enter the draft.

''The key point at the end of the day is Adelaide have recognised and decided it is appropriate that they don't participate in the first two selections of this draft,'' Anderson said.

''I think it is sensible, I think it is the right thing and something that had to happen by Adelaide volunteering and I think they have to be given credit for that … I think it is better for the game that they don't [participate in the first two rounds of the draft] in all circumstances.''

Trigg, the chief executive who is personally facing charges over the Tippett case, was not present at the AFL chief executives' meeting on the Gold Coast. The Crows were represented by another club official.

Lawyers representing all parties were told early on Wednesday of the AFL's move.

One issue that could be resolved on Friday is Tippett's bid to have AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou removed from the commission adjudications in the belief that the AFL boss is now conflicted having spoken about the case to Chapman, the Crows chairman.

The AFL has ordered that Tippett stay on Adelaide's list for now, even though he wants a trade to the Swans. That meant the Crows had to delist teenager Nick Joyce.

Chapman also said: ''We are in ongoing discussions with the AFL. This gesture forms part of those discussions and is made in good faith.

''There are pressing deadlines with the draft and our priority is to see Nick Joyce back on our main list. This will now happen at the pre-season draft. So we see this as a pragmatic gesture made in good faith. It's all about seeking the best overall outcome for the Adelaide Football Club.''

The AFL's media manager, Patrick Keane, tweeted on Wednesday afternoon: ''Adrian Anderson will recommend to AFL Commission Adelaide's actions be taken into consideration in its deliberations next week.''